A letter penned by the two to Geithner points to concerns that a U.S. Treasury Department change set to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2013, could raise the retirement age for Wisconsin police and firefighters to 62.

Unlike other states, Wisconsin state employees are covered under the same retirement system. Police officers and firefighters can retire at age 53 with 25 years of service or at age 54 with less than 25 years of service.

Treasury regulations would result in a normal retirement between 55 and 62 for all state workers in the Wisconsin Retirement System, Baldwin said.

Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls recently lost a captain, detective, correctional officer, lieutenant and secretary to retirement. A patrol officer has turned his retirement notice and two more are on the fence about leaving.

Mass exodus feared

Nehls said a change of retirement age could lead to five more retirements in his department and a mass exodus from law enforcement agencies throughout Wisconsin.

"They (law enforcement) anticipates if the change is not delayed, you could see 2,200 people retiring within law enforcement and fire services (in 2012)," Nehls said. "That would be detrimental to me.

"It (the retirement change) is causing a lot of angst now," he added. "Emails are going back and forth, and letters are being sent furiously (to politicians)."

Unless Geithner delays the retirement age change, Nehls predicts numerous senior law enforcement members to be leaving in December.

"I'm not age discriminatory, but I don't necessarily want to have patrolman on the road at the age of 60 and don't want people working as correctional officers in detention facilities at the age of 60," Nehls said.

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Kohl wrote to Geithner that police officers and firefighters should not be punished because of Wisconsin's "unique" retirement structure.

"Our police officers and firefighters work in physically demanding jobs that often put them in harm's way, and Wisconsin's retirement system rightly recognizes that service," Kohl wrote. "We're not asking for special treatment — we are only asking that Wisconsin's public safety workers be treated like those in every other state and not be punished because of the unique structure of the state's retirement system."

The Fond du Lac Police Department had an officer resign following an alleged hit-and-run incident.

In addition, Officer Jeff Klintworth has announced his retirement. A patrol officer, captain and detective are also expected to retire in May, said Police Chief Bill Lamb.

"If you factor in (Officer) Gary Burns retirement in February, we're losing more than 150 years of experience between February and May," Lamb said. "That is absolutely a unique challenge for the department."

Lamb speculated that if the retirement age changes, at least five more officers could leave.

"I have heard officers as young as 49 and high as 54 who planned on working a couple more years would seriously consider retiring under the existing regulations," Lamb said.

Dealing with cuts

Nehls has been given approval to fill his vacancies. The Fond du Lac Police Department is currently hiring to fill the roster.

Meanwhile, North Fond du Lac Police Chief Darren Pautsch is having a tougher time filling voids.

An internal hiring process is being done first to fill the sergeant spot. If an employee takes that, then two patrol officers will be needed.

When Pautsch took over the department from Fond du Lac Chief Bill Lamb, it left a vacated captain position.

The Village Board cut costs by not letting Pautsch hire a captain. However, the board later decided to give Pautsch an additional officer.

Waupun Police Chief Dale Heeringa is dealing with potentially not being able to replace 33-year veteran Deputy Chief Mindy Hendricks.

Waupun mayoral candidates pitched an idea that Hendricks' position could be left vacant to cut costs and asked the City Council to consider restructuring administrative positions in the Police Department.

Mayor Jodi Steger told The Reporter that the subject will be discussed in the weeks to come among herself, City Administrator Kyle Clark and Heeringa.

Sheriff Mick Fink reported that one deputy has announced his retirement. However, his office does have other employees that could retire if the retirement age change occurs.